As the government pins its hopes on the Building Better, Building Beautiful commission, only one in 10 of the nation’s planners believe design is the most important factor in persuading local communities to accept a new development on their doorstep.

A new survey by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) found that while planners welcomed the government’s focus on improving the design of housing developments, 89% believed other factors were more important than design when trying to reassure locals about a housing scheme being built nearby.

The government-backed Building Better, Building Beautiful commission, headed until yesterday by philosopher Roger Scruton, is expected to make a series of final recommendations by the end of this year on how new homes can be designed better to meet expectations of both buyers and those living near to new housing developments.